Sheriff Johnson was right. The motel and the breakfast were perfect for our needs.
Renz and I headed to the hospital, where we hoped to find Tara awake and alert. We had no idea whether anyone like the hospital chaplain or a doctor had spoken with her about the crash. We took the elevator to the ICU wing and approached the nurses’ station. After showing our badges, we asked to speak to the doctor overseeing Tara Philips’s post-surgery condition.
We were told that the daytime ICU doctor on duty was Gary Millburn and he had just begun his morning rounds. Renz explained that we needed to speak with him or somebody else who could talk to us about Tara, and we needed to speak to that person immediately. They obviously knew there was a reason a deputy was walking the hallways in that wing and that it had to do with Tara Philips.
The nurse said she would page the doctor and ask if he could meet with us between patients. It was the best she could do. We thanked her and took seats in the small seating area near the elevators.
Renz called Sheriff Burke in Meagher County and updated him. Renz told him we were in Livingston and couldn’t get back in time to retrieve the shell casings. He or a deputy would have to take care of that for us.
“Sheriff Johnson told me about the crash on Highway 89. That’s terrible news about Byron. He seemed like a nice enough guy. And the baby, well, that’s a real shame,” Burke said.
“A real shame about it being a murder too. I can guarantee you it’s the same guy who tried to kill Jane Doe. Keep your deputies alert for anything suspicious at the hospital. Meanwhile, we’re going to try to get Tara transferred to Mountainview. Having her and Jane in the same hospital will make things easier all around. We’ll be there, you and your team will be there, and the best news is, the killer lives nearby. We’re going to get him, Clay, and damn soon.”
“I hope you’re right. We don’t need that type in our neck of the woods. Most folks here are honest, hardworking people who just want to live life in peace.”
“Understood. Keep me posted and get those shell casings to the crime lab right away. We need to know if there are prints on them, and if there are, who they belong to.”
Minutes after Renz hung up, a doctor walked toward us. I nudged Renz. “That must be Dr. Millburn.”
“Good. We need to get the show on the road since we have a lot to accomplish today. We still need to find out from Taft if they learned anything from the auction house customer list in the other states or anything more about that corporation whose name was listed as a customer on a number of auction sites.”
“Agents?”
We stood, introduced ourselves, and asked the doctor if there was a private place where we could talk to him about Tara. With a tip of his head, he motioned to a corner grouping at the end of the hall.
“We can talk there, but I only have about fifteen minutes to spare.”
“Sure. It’ll have to do.”
We didn’t have the luxury of going into detail, and we wouldn’t reveal too much of our case to civilians anyway. Renz paraphrased everything.
“As you know, Tara is under the sheriff office’s protection. We have a young lady in White Sulphur Springs under protective custody at Mountainview, and we believe the same people or person is responsible for her injuries as well. Our case is based in the White Sulphur Springs area, and we believe Tara would be safer there, where we can keep eyes on her while we work the case. Can she be transferred there today? We’ll even drive along behind the transport vehicle to make sure she arrives safely.”
“Um… geez, I’d have to review her chart and consult with Dr. Vallskey before we could release her.”
“She wouldn’t actually be released from care, just moved to a different hospital. I’m asking you to work with us, Doctor, since we really don’t have a lot of wiggle room here.”
He tipped his wrist and checked the time. “I can give you an answer in an hour.”
“Okay, we’ll be back then.”
Renz and I found the hospital cafeteria and waited there. I called Sheriff Johnson to find out about the search for shell casings along the freeway. He said deputies had been at the location for over an hour, and so far, they hadn’t found any casings.
I groaned. “Another dead end, damn it. They probably made sure the casings ejected into their car.”
I told the sheriff about our intentions to move Tara that morning and said we would head to White Sulphur Springs as long as we got the green light from the doctor. I asked the sheriff to keep us updated if he or his deputies heard any chatter about the shootings. He promised he would, and I ended the call. Next, I needed to update Taft on the shit storm that had taken place last night. The killer was beyond brazen, which told me that if he did have more kids in custody, they were likely in imminent danger.
I couldn’t put Taft on Speakerphone because of the people in the room, so I would have to go over the call with Renz later. He went to the counter and bought two coffees while he waited on me.
Keeping my voice low, I called our boss, and she answered right away. “Did you learn anything more about that corporation?” I asked.
“We did, but we can’t get through the barrier they’ve created. The name of the corporation is Full Circle Enterprises, and it’s based in the Caymans.”
“The name itself says a lot.”
“I agree, Jade, but that’s the umbrella company name if you will. The plat book for Meagher County doesn’t show any property owned by that corporation. We’ve hit a dead end even though we know that company is likely the one owned by the killer.”
“And nobody has to show a valid ID at the auctions?”
“They probably do, but I’m sure it’s fake anyway or the owner could be sending his minions inside to do the bidding for him while he scouts areas to dump people.”
I groaned. “But we’re so close.”
“And he’ll screw up. Keep putting pressure on the sheriff, ask people in the area if they’ve ever heard of Full Circle Enterprises, and keep your eye on the hospital. There could be someone watching from the parking lot. They probably know you and Lorenzo are there, but they may not know who you are. Get those doctors to move Tara so both she and Jane are in the same hospital. It’s safer for both of them that way. If the doctors need more convincing, give them my number.”
“Yes, ma’am. So the Malcolm thing is a dead end too?”
“It is, but continue to ask around when you get back to White Sulphur Springs. You never know who might have heard that name or spoken with a Malcolm at some point.”
“Roger that. We’ll let you know soon about moving Tara. The doctor is consulting with another doctor and will let us know within the hour.” I hung up and thanked Renz for the coffee.
“She have anything we can use?”
“Unfortunately not. The name of the corporation is Full Circle Enterprises, though.”
“Wow.”
“I know, right? The problem is that the umbrella company is based in the Caymans, and they don’t give up personal information to anyone. Taft said the Meagher County plat book doesn’t show any property with that corporation name as the owner.”
“So the owner could be any name under the sun, a person, or a subsidiary of that corporation.”
“Sounds that way,” I said.
“Anything else?”
“Only that she wants us to ask around on that company name and the name Malcolm. She couldn’t find any information on a Malcolm in the county.”
Renz rubbed his forehead. “Damn it. Chasing ghosts again.”
I smiled. “Aren’t we always?”